Mechanical interfaced system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a mechanical interface apparatus ( 1 ) for a motor drive unit ( 2 ) in motor vehicles, in particular in a motor vehicle door, which is firmly connected to the drive unit ( 2 ) and has holding and guide devices ( 4, 6 ) for holding a control or plug unit ( 3   a,    3   b ), with a cut-out ( 5 ), which passes all the way through, being formed between the interface apparatus ( 1 ) and the drive unit ( 2 ) in order to pass through at least one plug contact ( 30 ), a component mount ( 31 ) or the like for the control or plug unit ( 3   a,    3   b ); and with at least two guide devices ( 8, 9 ) being provided in or close to the drive unit ( 2 ) for guiding the plug contacts ( 30 ) and/or the component mounts ( 31 ) or various control or plug units ( 3   a,    3   b ) of this type.

The invention relates to a mechanical interface apparatus for a motordrive unit in motor vehicles, in particular in a motor vehicle door.

DE 198 514 55 A1 describes a module for fitting to a drive unit which isdriven by an electric motor and is provided with a connecting cap bymeans of which the module is attached to the drive unit. Drive unitssuch as these are generally arranged, for example, in vehicle doors andare subject to a high acceleration force of, for example, 50 g when thedoor is shut. This results in the risk of modules such as these becomingdetached from the drive unit when vehicle doors are shut, or ofelectrical and electronic contacts or sensors being moved away fromtheir operating position, so that the drive unit becomes unserviceable.

The expression drive units for vehicle inside doors should be regardedas meaning, for example, motor drives for window winders, externalmirrors, seat adjustment, door locks or the like.

DE 90 130 06 U1 discloses a system in which the drive unit and thecontrol unit are in the form of a common unit. A drive unit such as thishas the disadvantage that it can be used only for the same modules andcontrol units, and the control units cannot be configured on the basisof a building block system since it is impossible to replace them by orto use different control units.

The invention is accordingly based on the object of providing amechanical interface apparatus for drive units, in particular in motorvehicle doors, which is used on the basis of the building blockprinciple to hold different connecting units, for example a control orplug unit or the like.

According to one preferred development, at least one guide device isformed by a part of the housing of the drive unit.

At least one guide device is preferably formed by the brush holder of acommutator motor which is provided in the drive unit. Contact guidedevices such as these which are fixed to the drive ensure stablepositioning of corresponding components.

According to a further preferred development, the guide device is rigid.

In another embodiment, at least one contact guide device is formed byguide elements which are provided within the drive unit. In consequence,the plug contacts, holding sections, electrical conductors or the like,of the plug or control unit, which are inserted through a cut-out arepassed to a predetermined stable operating position and are held in thisstate even when lateral forces occur.

The guide elements are preferably each arranged in pairs parallel to theholding direction, with the pairs of guide elements having differentguide heights. It is thus also possible to distinguish between thedifferent electronic units by the mechanical interfaces.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the component mount isflexible.

In a further embodiment, the holding section of the plug or control unitcomprises a finger of a printed circuit board, of a stamped grid, of alead frame, of a part of an MID base or the like, on which components,such as a sensor; electronics with an integrated sensor, in particular aHall sensor suppression components such as an inductor or a capacitor; asingle-chip micro controller with an integrated Hall sensor or the likeare arranged. The use of correspondingly associated rigid guide devicesto guide the finger means that the corresponding components are kept ina predetermined, stable operating state, and are held in this state in astable manner, corresponding to their functionality.

The plug or control unit preferably engages in an interlocking mannerwith the cut-out in the operating state. The individual electrical orelectromechanical components in the interior of the drive unit are thusprotected against external influences, for example dirt particles.

In one preferred development, at least one sealing device, in particulara sealing ring or a multistage laminate seal, is provided between thecut-out and the housing of the control or plug unit. The electricalcomponents are thus also protected against moisture. The overallarrangement can thus be used not only in a dry area but also in a wetarea, in the latter case together with the sealing device that has beenmentioned.

DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detailin the following description and are illustrated in the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an interface apparatus according toone exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a control unitpartially inserted;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of the interior of a drive unitwith an interface apparatus fitted, according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of the drive unit in the directionof the arrow shown in FIG. 2, with a printed circuit board sectioninserted;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view of the interior of a drive unitwith an interface apparatus fitted, according to one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective side view of the drive unit in the directionof the arrow shown in FIG. 4, with a printed circuit board sectioninserted;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the drive unit without an integratedmotor but with an interface apparatus fitted and a partially insertedplug apparatus, according to one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 shows a further perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIG.6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Identical reference symbols denote the same or functionally identicalcomponents in the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a motor drive unit 2 with acommutator motor 20. At this point, it should be noted that thecommutator motor 20 has been omitted from the following figures, inorder to illustrate the interior of the drive unit 2 better.

An interface apparatus 1 with holding and guide devices 4, 6 is fittedto the drive unit 2. A control unit 3 a is firmly connected to the driveunit 2, and is mounted in a stable manner in an operating state, bymeans of the mechanical interface apparatus 1.

The mechanical interface apparatus 1 has a guide device 4 whichpreferably comprises two robust guide rails 40 a, 40 b, which arearranged opposite one another and are connected to one another by meansof a robust connecting plate 40 c.

The interface apparatus 1 furthermore has a latching device which,according to the present exemplary embodiment, has two locking tongues80 a, 80 b. The locking tongues 80 a, 80 b are arranged parallel to arespective guide rail 40 a, 40 b of the guide device 4 and have two ormore, for example in each case two, latching openings 81 a, 81 c and 81b, 81 d, respectively, which are arranged one behind the other in theholding direction. Furthermore, the locking tongues 80 a, 80 b of thelatching device are mounted, for example on one side, on the guidedevice 4 and are formed integrally with it. The free ends of the lockingtongues 80 a, 80 b advantageously point away from the drive unit 2. Thetwo locking tongues 80 a, 80 b thus form a flexible or resilientinsertion area.

The mechanical interface apparatus 1 furthermore has a bearing device 6,which is preferably arranged at right angles to the guide device 4 andto the locking tongues 80 a, 80 b and is integrally formed on them. Thebearing device 6 comprises a section which is in the form of a plate andin which the cut-out 5 is provided for the printed circuit board tongue31 to pass through and for electrical contact tongues of the controlunit 3 a to pass through. In addition, the section which is in the formof a plate has at least one opening 60, into which projections 36 on thecontrol unit 3 a can engage, in order to provide additional robustnessand locking.

Reinforcements which run laterally and are preferably in the form oflimbs are integrally formed between the guide device 4 and the bearingdevice 6, and the control unit 3 a comes to rest between them in theoperating state when it is resting on the section that is in the form ofa plate. At least one of the two reinforcements is designed such that itforms a reinforcing corner 7 which, as illustrated in FIG. 1, mergesinto the locking tongue 80 b which is arranged on the correspondingside. The side which points towards the interior of the motor vehicle ispreferably formed with a reinforcing corner 7 in order to make itpossible to absorb the acceleration forces which occur when the doorsare shut. The reinforcing corner 7 is thus used to provide additionalposition security for the control unit 3 a.

A printed circuit board tongue 31 also projects from the control unit 3a in the direction of the drive unit 2, and a Hall sensor 37, asingle-chip micro controller or the like, for example, is arranged onit.

Plug contacts or electrical contact tongues 30 a, 30 b or the like forproviding power to the commutator motor 20 are fitted on the side of thecontrol unit 3 a facing the bearing device and project from the controlunit 3 a, parallel to the printed circuit board tongue 31, in thedirection of the drive unit 2. The electrical connection between thecontrol unit 3 a and the motor drive unit 2 is made via the electricalcontact tongues 30 a, 30 b. The plug contacts 30 a, 30 b and the printedcircuit board tongue 31 are passed through the cut-out 5, which passesall the way through, between the interface apparatus 1 and the driveunit 2 into the drive unit 2.

The control unit 3 a preferably comprises two housing shells 37, 38 witha laterally projecting latching tooth 32 a, or 32 b, respectively,preferably being provided on the respective housing shell 37, 38 andengaging in a correspondingly associated latching opening 81 a or 81 b,respectively, in the latching device or locking tongue 80 a, 80 b,respectively, when the control unit 3 a is in the operating state.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the drive unit 2 with an interfaceapparatus 1 fitted, as already explained above but without theassociated commutator motor.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the printed circuit board tongue 31 of thecontrol unit 3 a in the illustrated embodiment has a Hall sensor 33mounted on it and is passed through the cut-out 5 into the interior ofthe drive unit 2. In this case, the printed circuit board tongue 31 ispassed through preferably two guide elements 8 a, 8 b in an operatingstate such that the Hall sensor 33 assumes a predetermined position withrespect to the ring magnet 22.

The two guide elements 8 a, 8 b are arranged one behind the otherparallel to the holding direction of the printed circuit board and havethe same guide height h₁. The guide elements 8 a, 8 b are advantageouslyformed integrally on the brush holder 21 of the commutator motor whichis provided in the drive unit 2, or are formed as part of the housing ofthe drive unit 2. The guide elements 8 a, 8 b are preferably in the formof an interlocking positive guide, with the printed circuit board tongue31 to be inserted being guided, for example, in a groove in therespective guide element. Alternatively, the guide can also be providedby means of a contact guide or a sprung rest surface guide, with theprinted circuit board tongue 31 preferably being prestressed in a sprungmanner against the corresponding resting surfaces of the rigidly fittedguide elements 8 a, 8 b and 9 a, 9 b.

Two motor contacts 10 a, 10 b in the form of contact plates are alsoprovided close to the cut-out 5 in the drive unit 2 and are used on theone hand for guiding the plug contacts 30 a, 30 b of the control unit 3a, and on the other hand, by being clamped onto the plug contacts 30 a,30 b, for providing electrical power to the drive unit 2.

FIG. 3 shows a view in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2.However, the housing of the drive unit 3 a is not shown, in order toillustrate the guide elements 8 a and 9 a better, and the printedcircuit board tongue 31 is illustrated only partially.

If FIG. 3 is compared with FIG. 2, it can be seen that the guide elementpairs 8 a, 8 b and 9 a, 9 b are designed to have two different guideheights h₁ and h₂, respectively. The two pairs of guide elements 8 a, 8b and 9 a, 9 b with the different guide heights h₁ and h₂, respectively,are arranged opposite one another in the drive unit 2 such that theycorrespond to the respectively inserted printed circuit board tongue 31.A respective pair of guide elements 8 a, 8 b and 9 a, 9 b is associatedwith a specific control unit 3 a with a different position of theprinted circuit board tongue 31.

The control unit 3 a to be inserted and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has aprinted circuit board tongue 31 with a Hall sensor 33 mounted on it,with the predetermined operating position of the Hall sensor 33 withrespect to the ring magnet 22 of the drive unit 2 governing thearrangement of the guide elements 8 a, 8 b. The number of the guideelements 8 a, 8 b and 9 a, 9 b, respectively, and of the guide devices8, 9 may vary depending on the requirement.

FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond essentially to the views in FIGS. 2 and 3, butwith the only difference being that the control unit 3 a has a printedcircuit board tongue 31 on which a single-chip micro controller 34 withan integrated Hall sensor 33 is mounted, rather than the Hall sensor 33.Since the operating position of the Hall sensor 33 with respect to thering magnet 22 is predetermined and must therefore correspond to theposition in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, respectively, but the single-chip microcontroller 34 means that an additional component is provided between theprinted circuit board finger 31 and the Hall sensor 33, the guideelements 9 a and 9 b which are associated with this control unit 3 ahave a smaller guide height h₂, as can be seen in FIG. 5. This makes itpossible to compensate for the height differences between the variouselectronic devices, which are distinguished solely by the mechanicalinterface.

The other components and functions correspond to those in thearrangement shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 and therefore do not need to beexplained any further.

On the basis of the normal situation of an electronic control drive unit2 for, for example, an adjustment device, it is necessary for a smallnumber of applications to provide a purely electrical drive without anyelectronics.

As is illustrated in perspective form in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plug unit 3 bis in this exemplary embodiment of the invention connected via theinterface apparatus 1 to the drive unit 2 in such a way that electricalplug contacts 30 a, 30 b of the plug unit 3 b are plugged onto thecontact boards 10 a, 10 b of the drive unit 2 in the operating state,and are guided by them.

In this case, latching teeth 32 c and 32 d which project laterally onthe plug unit 3 b engage in the corresponding associated latchingopenings 81 c, 81 d, respectively, in the latching device and lockingtongues 80 a and 80 b, respectively, when the plug unit 3 b is in theoperating state.

In order to ensure that the electrical contact points 10 in the interiorof the drive unit 2 are protected, for example against dirt particles ormoisture, the side of the plug unit 3 b which faces the drive unit 2 isdesigned such that it forms an interlock with the cut-out 5. Inaddition, a multistage laminate seal 12 is provided between the cut-out5 and the housing of the plug unit 3 b, in order to seal the arrangementin the operating state. The arrangement can thus also be used in the wetarea of a vehicle door without malfunctions being caused by moisture.

The present invention therefore provides a simple and low-cost interfaceapparatus 1 in order to implement the building block principle.Differently designed control and plug units 3 a, 3 b may be connected tothe same drive unit 2. The control or plug unit for the respectiveapplication will thus be designed appropriately with a sensor system;electronics for controlling a window winder, a seat, a sliding roof, anexternal mirror or the like; with suppression components, such as aninductor or a capacitor; electronics as multifunctional electronics, orthe like. For each control unit/plug unit, precise and securepositioning of the corresponding components in the operating state isensured by means of the guide devices which are designed such that theydiffer in an appropriate manner.

Although the present invention has been described above on the basis ofpreferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted to these exemplaryembodiments but can be modified in a wide range of manners.

In particular, the holding section 31 of the control or plug unit may bein the form of a finger or tongue 31 on a printed circuit board, astamped grid, a lead frame, a part of an MID base, or the like.

Furthermore, the sealing devices may also be arranged between thatsection of the control unit which faces the drive unit and the interfaceapparatus.

1. A mechanical interface apparatus for a motor drive unit in motorvehicles, in particular in a motor vehicle door, which is firmlyconnected to the drive unit and comprises holding/guide devices forholding a connection unit, wherein a continuous cut-out, for leading atleast one plug contact, one component mount or the like of theconnection unit therethrough is formed between the interface apparatusand the drive unit; wherein at least two guide devices are provided inor close to the drive unit for guiding the plug contacts, componentmounts or the like of different connection units; wherein said at leasttwo guide devices each comprises at least one guide element, such thatthe guide elements are displaced parallel to each other for providingdifferent guide heights for the plug contacts, component mounts or thelike of said different connection units.
 2. The interface apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said guide devices is formedby a part of the housing of the drive unit.
 3. The interface apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said guide devices isformed by the brush holder of a commutator motor which is provided inthe drive unit.
 4. The interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that said guide devices are rigid.
 5. The interfaceapparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said guideelements are provided within the drive unit.
 6. The interface apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said component mount of the connectionunit for carrying components comprises a finger of a printed circuitboard, stamped grid, lead frame or part of a MID base.
 7. The interfaceapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component mount isflexible.
 8. The interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidconnection unit engages in an interlocking manner with said cut-out inthe operating state.
 9. The interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein at least one of said guide devices is at least partially formedby motor contacts which are provided in said drive unit.
 10. Amechanical interface apparatus for a motor drive unit in motor vehicles,in particular in a motor vehicle door, which is firmly connected to thedrive unit and comprises holding/guide devices for holding a connectionunity wherein a continuous cut-out for leading at least one plugcontact, one component mount or the like of the connection unittherethough is formed between the interface apparatus and the driveunit; wherein at least two guide devices are provided in or close to thedrive unit for guiding the plug contacts, component mounts or the likeof different connection units; wherein said at least two guide devicescomprise at least one guide element, such that the guide elements aredisplaced parallel to each other for providing different guide heightsfor the plug contacts, component mounts or the like of said differentconnection units; wherein said guide elements are provided within thedrive unit; and wherein said guide elements are each arranged in pairsparallel to the holding direction, with the pairs of guide elementshaving different guide heights.
 11. A mechanical interface apparatus fora motor drive unit in motor vehicles, in particular in a motor vehicledoor, which is firmly connected to the drive unit and comprisesholding/guide devices for holding a connection unit, wherein acontinuous cut-out, for leading at least one plug contact, one componentmount or the like of the connection unit therethrough is formed betweenthe interface apparatus and the drive unit; wherein at least two guidedevices are provided in or close to the drive unit for guiding the plugcontacts, component mounts or the like of different connection units;wherein said at least two guide devices comprise at least one guideelement such that the guide elements are displaced parallel to eachother for providing different guide heights for the plug contacts,component mounts or the like of said different connection units; whereinsaid component mount of the connection unit for carrying componentscomprises a finger of a printed circuit board, stamped grid, lead frameor part of a MID base; and wherein said guide device is rigid andprovided for moving said components on the component mount for theconnection unit to a predetermined, stable operating position.
 12. Amechanical interface apparatus for a motor drive unit in motor vehicles,in particular in a motor vehicle door, which is firmly connected to thedrive unit and comprises holding/guide devices for holding a connectionunit, wherein a continuous cut-out for leading at least one plugcontact, one component mount or the like of the connection unittherethrougt is formed between the interface apparatus and the driveunit; wherein at least two guide devices are provided in or close to thedrive unit for guiding the plug contacts, component mounts or the likeof different connection units; wherein said at least two guide devicescomprise at least one guide element such that the guide elements aredisplaced parallel to each other for providing different guide heightsfor the plug contacts, component mounts or the like of said differentconnection units; wherein at least one sealing device, having the formof a sealing ring or a multistage laminate seal, is provided betweensaid cut-out and the housing of the connection unit.
 13. A mechanicalinterface apparatus for a motor drive unit in motor vehicles, inparticular in a motor vehicle door, which is firmly connected to thedrive unit and comprises holding/guide devices for holding a connectionunit, wherein a continuous cut-out for leading at least one plugcontact, one component mount or the like of the connection unittherethrough is formed between the interface apparatus and the driveunit; wherein at least two guide devices are provided in or close to thedrive unit for guiding the plug contacts, component mounts or the likeof different connection units; wherein said at least two guide devicescomprise at least one guide element such that the guide elements aredisplaced parallel to each other for providing different guide heightsfor the plug contacts, component mounts or the like of said differentconnection units; wherein said component mount for the connection unitfor carrying components comprises a finger of a printed circuit board,stamped grid, lead frame or part of a MID base; and wherein saidcomponents comprise a sensor.
 14. A mechanical interface apparatus for amotor drive unit in motor vehicles, in particular in a motor vehicledoor, which is firmly connected to the drive unit and comprisesholding/guide devices for holding a connection unit, wherein acontinuous cut-out for leading at least one plug contact, one componentmount or the like of the connection unit therethrough is formed betweenthe interface apparatus and the drive unit; wherein at least two guidedevices are provided in or close to the drive unit for guiding the plugcontacts, component mounts or the like of different connection units;wherein said at least two guide devices comprise at least one guideelement such that the guide elements are displaced parallel to eachother for providing different guide heights for the plug contacts,component mounts or the like of said different connection units; whereinsaid component mount for the connection unit for carrying componentscomprises a finger of a printed circuit board, stamped grid, lead frameor part of a MID base; and wherein said components comprise anelectronic circuit with an integrated sensor.
 15. A mechanical interfaceapparatus for a motor drive unit in motor vehicles, in particular in amotor vehicle door, which is firmly connected to the drive unit andcomprises holding/guide devices for holding a connection unit, wherein acontinuous cut-out for leading at least one plug contact, one componentmount or the like of the connection unit therethrough is formed betweenthe interface apparatus and the drive unit; wherein at least two guidedevices are provided in or close to the drive unit for guiding the plugcontacts, component mounts or the like of different connection units;and wherein said at least two guide devices comprise at least one guideelement such that the guide element are displaced parallel to each otherfor providing different guide heights for the plug contacts, componentmounts or the like of said different connection units; wherein saidcomponent mount for the connection unit for carrying componentscomprises a finger of a printed circuit board, stamped grid, lead frameor part of a MID base; and wherein said components comprise asuppressor.